Egypt and the International Monetary Fund reached a preliminary deal that would likely unlock a further tranche of the North African nation’s $8 billion loan.

The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday it reached a staff-level agreement with Egypt on the fourth review under its Extended Fund Facility arrangement, potentially unlocking a $1.2 billion disbursement under the programme.

The agreement includes recalibrating Egypt's fiscal commitments to create space for critical social programmes benefiting vulnerable groups and the middle class, while ensuring debt sustainability